As the coordinator of the Jasper Victim Services Unit, Paul Schmidt is on call at all hours of the day, ensuring that someone is always available to console and assist victims of tragic accidents and crimes in Jasper National Park. In this monthly column, Schmidt will talk about some of the issues he sees. He won鈥檛 speak for victims, but will address the issues from a victim services perspective, drawing on his years of experience in the field.
Jasper Victim Services is called upon in many situations where although there might not be a criminal offence, there are victims who have been through a traumatic event.
These calls can be time intensive for our advocates because there are often a lot of details to sort out.
If it鈥檚 a criminal matter the RCMP will investigate it, but in many cases there is no obvious wrong doing or intended harm. These files may involve motor vehicle collisions or fatal injuries.
In some ways people who are suffering after the incident鈥攈aving lost a loved one to an accident or natural event鈥攈ave a very difficult time coping with what has happened. There may be no person to point the finger at in a natural disaster, and the feelings of anger that often come along with a loss do not have a clear target to be directed toward.
Knowing that there is no individual other than the deceased who can be blamed for this incident is confusing for friends and family who are trying to make sense of their loss while dealing with overwhelming emotions.
We are also called when people have a physical ailment鈥攔anging from a heart attack to broken bones. Jasper Victim Services does not provide counselling or therapy, but we are often able to be a listening ear as people are coping with immense pressures. These victims, their family, and their friends may require assistance getting to a major centre for a hospital visit or to be with their loved one who is transported by ambulance. They may also need assistance with meals, accommodation, or other transportation needs.
Essentially, Jasper Victim Services helps people who are in need of help to sort things out, but in that moment, may not be able to prioritize and work through their needs on their own.
There are also times when mental health concerns have come to the forefront. People may have come directly to the hospital, or at other times they may have been brought to the hospital by the RCMP as they have been deemed a risk to themselves or someone else.
There are many times that mental health concerns may be apparent, but not to the degree that hospitalization is required. These scenarios may be a bit of a stretch to fall under the umbrella of victim services, but if I look to the beginnings of our organization as the Jasper Crisis Team, which was established in 1996, they do fit.
It was in 2007 that Jasper Victim Services became a legal entity and we were able to enhance supports to victims of crime. But our financial beginning came from the Crisis Team, as well as the contributions of many of our early volunteer board members and advocates.
This responsibility to assist in these scenarios is not laid out specifically in the mandate, but we weigh what is in the best interest for the community. If a person suffering with mental illness were to be left to their own devices, possibly staying outside, they could become a victim, or victimize someone else as they are in a desperate circumstance. We attempt to be proactive in these scenarios.
Regardless of the reason Jasper Victim Services gets involved, we do our best to respond with compassion and to assist people to the best of our ability.
For more information, contact Jasper Victim Services at 780-852-2275 or [email protected].
Paul Schmidt
Special to the 51暗网
